This spring, Emilie Frechie (MEd ‘04) was recognized with the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching.
The Lindback Foundation established the award to honor teachers from Philadelphia public schools who demonstrate
excellence in promoting learning at the highest levels.
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| Photo by: Michael Pilla |
Frechie earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design with an independent concentration in Fashion Journalism and History from Parsons School of Design which is a part of the New School.
She spent most of her college career thinking she was preparing to work in magazine editorial.
“I was in New York during 9/11 and that really shifted my thinking,” she said. “I had a couple of professors who helped me to see the innate teacher in me and helped me to shift my focus in that direction.”
Frechie came to Cabrini to get her Master’s in Education beginning in the summer of 2003.
“I took Introduction to Schooling with Gary Bundy, and I knew in that first class that I was going to be a city teacher,” Frechie said. “As he framed the issues of urban education, I saw an answer to all the questions that hounded me after 9/11 when I was living in New York. What, at the end of it all, will be your legacy? What will you contribute and what will be the meaning of your life's work?”
“Cabrini was the first place where I understood my responsibility to serve and better other people's lives and life prospects,” she said.
After graduating from Cabrini in 2004 with distinction, Frechie went right into teaching, never second-guessing her decision.
Currently, she teaches at the Philadelphia High School for Creative & Performing Arts (CAPA).
“Finding CAPA was like falling in love,” she said. “I spent the first six months sitting in the dance studio after school watching rehearsal just overwhelmed by the good fortune I had to find myself at such a vital and transformative school.”
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| Photo by: Michael Pilla |
Her schedule is always busy because she not only teaches Freshman Creative Nonfiction, and Senior AP Literature and Composition, but she also serves as the Dean of Students.
“In the morning, I teach three classes, back-to-back, and then spend the remainder of the day addressing whatever concerns come across my desk as the Dean of Students,” Frechie said. “A lot of my work outside of teaching centers around identifying kids who are struggling in some capacity, and helping them to cope with whatever is getting in the way of them connecting with their truest selves—or with others.”
Frechie comes from a family of educators. In addition to her father, Seth Frechie, PhD, Professor of English at Cabrini, her mother, husband, and brother- and sister-in-law teach as well. But she credits her grandmother, Selma Frechie, who served as a social worker, with instilling in her and her father a sense of connection to public service and the value of investing in other’s well-being.
Frechie also recognizes Tom Stretton, EdD, and Gary Bundy for helping her on her path to becoming a successful teacher.
“Dr. Stretton taught me how to teach and Mr. Bundy taught me why,” she said. “All of my classes were valuable, but those two together gave me the vision and the tools to build the house.”
Although Frechie has been teaching for nearly 15 years, and has now won the Lindback award, she still feels like she has room for improvement.
“Getting the Lindback is sort of like having someone pat me on the back and say, you're on the right track,” she said. “But, I'll never feel totally confident that I'm doing everything I could do. I don't think I'll ever feel like I can relax when it comes to serving kids. I'm always wondering if I'm doing it well enough, or is there something else that can make it better.”
Receiving the Lindback has felt extra special to Frechie because back in 2007 her father was awarded the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching as well.
“When he won [the Lindback], we were all so proud of him, but now with two "Lindbacks" in the family, it's feeling more like a tradition,” she said. “It makes me feel connected to him because we both have the same passion and life trajectory in a lot of ways.”